Wind of the Soul » Health and Well Being

Becoming a Vegetarian

John Wolfe — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 05:45:02 +0000

Have you ever had an experience in which you honestly felt you weren’t fully responsible for making the decision or the choice to engage in a set of circumstances or an event – it just sort of slipped up on you? This line of thinking is not my normal approach with regards to taking full responsibility for everything in our lives. However, I’m willing to entertain such a thing because I felt something similar regarding my “choice” of becoming a vegetarian in 2008.

Prior to this last year, I had always been a meat eater. That’s not a fact I’m proud of, but it’s something I’m willing to admit. Though I was raised in a household where my mom was a vegetarian, I still consumed meat. Even after embarking on the path of becoming more consciously aware and respectful of all living things, I continued to consume meat.

The contradiction in that last sentence should have been obvious to me at some point, but it wasn’t. Just like so many of the issues I’ve had to face in becoming more self-actualized, my “taste” for meat (as a young adult) was motivated by my own issues of low self-esteem.

As a teenager, I was constantly teased for being painfully thin. This situation only compounded an already burgeoning state of insecurity. By age 18, I began a very serious bodybuilding and weight training hobby, with the hopes of shedding my old appearance. I had grown to hate the body I saw in the mirror and was willing to do almost anything to permanently alter or change it, even if it meant hurting myself in the process. My motto was: “I can’t do anything about my face, but I can certainly do something to fix my body” – somewhat empowering, yet simultaneously self defeating, wouldn’t you say?

Because of my strong desire to outgrow my old body, I began devouring any and all bodybuilding literature, videos, conversations in the gym, etc. Everything pointed in the same direction with regards to a muscle building diet: animal protein and more animal protein. I submersed myself in the lifestyle and lost sight of the consequences of my actions. While this post isn’t about body image (that’s coming up in a future entry), it’s important to point out how easy it is to make unconscious decisions when we’re suffering emotionally. The dietary habits I formed during that decade of self-destructive bodybuilding had become ingrained. Throughout my late twenties and early thirties I continued to eat meat.

However, in 2008, this practice came to a screeching halt. While I’ve been completely aware of the vegan and vegetarian lifestyle for years, my personal change had nothing to do with intentionally emulating these admirable actions (at least it didn’t feel that way). I don’t actually know how to explain the manner in which I became a vegetarian. This takes me back to my statement in the opening paragraph: I didn’t feel fully responsible for making the decision.

I woke up one day, and it was as if my taste buds for meat had been removed. It began with beef in March of last year and worked its way down the list of the other animals (e.g. chicken and fish) I was consuming. Honestly, I attribute this change to absolutely following the wind of my soul, whether I was aware of it or not.

Based on my current path, becoming a vegetarian was the next logical step in my development and evolution. It appears “something” knew that better than I did. Feel free to call it whatever you like: a subconscious motivation, a conscious choice that I chose to overlook, or some form of soulful intervention; all I know is that I’m currently far more satisfied with my food choices, by no longer being responsible for contributing to the slaughter of animals. My dietary intake still includes large amounts of protein, but they now come in the form of protein powders, dairy and soy based products only.

I’m not here to judge anyone’s choices when it comes to eating or not eating meat. Just as I had to go through my own experience of waking up, so will others and I respect that.

However, in closing this post, I will leave you with this concept: if an animal is killed in a violent manner (name a slaughterhouse in which that’s not the case) and a person chooses to eat its meat – that same animal’s molecules are melding with the molecules of the individual; this includes everything the animal felt, coursing through its veins, at the moment of death.

We compound the poisoning of our own vibrational state, by first killing and then eating that which has been violently killed. Yet, if we’re already in a place of psychologically poisoning ourselves on a daily basis, what other actions would be fitting to take, if not those which mirror our own internal turmoil? I’m not defending the killing or carnivorous action; only understanding the lack of awareness in why it’s committed, because I used to be there.

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Evoking Change through Uplifting Action

John Wolfe — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 00:56:07 +0000

As is customary for me, when PBS goes into pledge drive mode, my TV spends more time on than it does off. During these pledge drives, you’ll find public television airing more personal development and spiritually based programming. Several days ago, they featured a self-help seminar, titled: The Traveler’s Gift, by Andy Andrews. I first became aware of Andy through his book, Storms of Perfection, in which he shared the personal success stories (which stemmed from the repeated “failures” and persistent drive) of many well known celebrities, athletes and business people.

The point of Andy’s PBS special was to reinforce the idea that each and every one of our actions, no matter how trivial they seem, create an impact; not only in our life but in the lives of so many others – even to the point of reaching future generations.

As Andy stated, “There are generations yet unborn, whose existence depends on the choices you make and the action you take. Because everything you do matters – every move you make, every action you take; not just for you; not just for your family or hometown – everything you do matters for all of us, forever.”

After shutting off the television, I began feeling for how Andy’s words resonated with me and how I’m applying them in my own life:

When we take any action, it not only has a direct impact on that which we are acting upon, but it also has an impact upon unknown or unseen (to us) variables, far removed from our immediate vicinity. For example, let’s take a look at a small derogatory action, such as someone throwing the finger to a fellow driver in traffic.

We assume a gesture such as that only has a direct, relevant impact in that very short moment in time. Rarely do we contemplate the kind of negative momentum that action may create in the life of the recipient, and in the lives of each individual the recipient comes into contact with after that moment, and in turn, each person those people come into contact with. Such a simple gesture can affect the mood and mindset of an individual in a manner far greater than we realize and that mood and mindset will determine their follow-up actions towards others. During the course of a single event, our activities have the potential to impact anywhere from a handful of people to thousands or even millions.

Every one of our actions and deeds creates a ripple effect throughout humanity and the Universe itself, sometimes enacting small outcomes, and at other times enacting greater ones, but the point is they all create an impact and they all count. When we take that into consideration, it becomes more important to consistently perform more conscious acts.

It may seem silly to think something as insignificant as gesturing with our middle finger can change the course of events for a multitude of individuals, but that (in a way) is exactly what it does. You see, the web of existence is so interconnected and intertwined that there is not one single action or deed which can escape causing an impact in our lives and in the lives of so many others. Everything was designed that way for a very good reason: to show us just how our choices can either benefit us greatly as we recognize and promote our unity, or else how they can harm us immensely as we react from a fear based belief in separation.

So, we have to ask ourselves, are the majority of our actions spurring on something positive in others or are they eliciting the opposite response? Of course, we each have to take responsibility for our deeds. Just because we perform a rude gesture doesn’t grant the recipient of that gesture cart blanche for treating anyone they encounter badly. But, it does need to make us more conscientious of our own behavior, whether we are the recipient or the giver. And, once we understand this principle and how far reaching it can be, we owe it to ourselves and others to be more conscientious. Another beautiful thing about embracing this knowledge is the fact we naturally become less reactive (more on this later) when we are on the receiving end of a rude gesture or unkind act.

Coming to the understanding of this concept was not difficult for me, but actually knowing it in my core has taken a while longer; not because I didn’t care about what I did to others, but, because I spent many years not caring about myself. I used to suffer from extremely low self-esteem. As a child, it was so bad; I heavily identified with the character Little Jackie Paper from “Puff the Magic Dragon.”

That may sound sort of humorous, but in essence, I felt paper thin and ineffective, so I assumed my actions and deeds counted for very little and had almost no impact on anyone else. This assumption was derived from my own internal views and judgments about my worth. Since I didn’t care about myself, how could I assume someone so “unimportant” could ever impact others (who I believed to be more alive and consequential)?

Developing an understanding, regarding the impact and brevity of the actions we take, is a natural byproduct of learning to love and respect ourselves and appreciate who we are. Our actions can only be as beneficial or as detrimental as the beliefs we retain in our internal landscape. As we strive to experience more internal growth, through self-love, forgiveness and understanding, we will naturally feel the desire to primarily perform positive external acts and deeds; not because it’s “right” or in abidance with social or religious law, but because it feels natural. In fact, it will become second nature to us, without trying to force it or even having to think about it because it will be a reflection of who we are internally.

Taking positive, impactful action is not about being a people pleaser or doing it for attention. Performing “good” deeds to please others or to show off and garner praise also stems from an inner place of doubting our own value. Performing uplifting, life affirming action should come from a place of truly wanting to make a difference and help others, while simultaneously respecting yourself.

One of my favorite lines from the book, Way of the Peaceful Warrior states: “A [peaceful] warrior acts, only a fool reacts.” The same can be said of creating positive action. If we are already in the internal place of peace and love, then we will act without being prompted (from social pressure) into doing so. People pleasing and performing good deeds for attention are not conscious action; they’re an unconscious reaction propelled by the fear of not fitting in or not feeling worthy of the attention we hope to gain from those we are trying to please. The same can be said of performing a negative or vengeful, detrimental deed – it’s not an action, but a reaction from a very fearful place.

As I speak of making a positive impact, I’m not necessarily referring to huge gestures. They can be extremely small, yet extremely effective. Just as something as seemingly miniscule as throwing the finger can negatively impact others in a big way; a smile, wave, pat on the back or a kind, sincere word can have a pronounced, beneficial impact on the life of the recipient and the lives of those he or she comes into contact with. Imagine the sort of change we would see if each of us received and passed on that type of interaction, with everyone on a daily basis.

Most people think it’s ridiculous to assume each one of us can actually change the world through caring, uplifting gestures (both big and small). I’ll say this: it takes just as much (if not less) physical effort to generate a beneficial act as it does to carry out an action full of anger or hate. The amount of effort required is not what’s preventing us from completely shifting the current world paradigm at the grand scale. Nor is the change slow in coming because we are pinned down by a lack of sufficient supplies.

Everything we need to accomplish this goal already exists in abundant quantity (be it material items or our own kind words). The woman/man power is there. The resources are there. The infrastructures are there. What’s missing is the internal decision (on the part of each person) to move toward that which is represented by love, peace and an uplifting spirit. If we choose to not be internally responsible for how we feel about ourselves and others – as it’s represented by the actions we take – we will never see beneficial change in our own lives or in the planet at large. It all starts from within.

The size of the gesture is a relative thing. If we each do what we can (and then just a little bit more) from where we are, the rest will take care of itself. That’s the beauty in this interconnected web of existence.

Andy Andrews is absolutely right – “…everything you do matters – every move you make, every action you take; not just for you; not just for your family or hometown – everything you do matters for all of us, forever.”

Posts Related to Uplifting Action

Forgiving our Past: Key to Unlocking a Joyful Present
Universal Law of Reciprocation
The Magic of Giving
8 Tips for Achieving a More Secure Peaceful State of Mind

Honoring Your Emotions & Experiences

John Wolfe — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 23:38:59 +0000

Over the years, as I have worked to explore my total-self, I’ve discovered an occasional tendency to try and ignore or hide certain emotions and experiences. If something didn’t feel “proper” or if it didn’t seem to fit into a so called sublime spiritual state of being, then I found the need to repress or ignore it. And when I wasn’t forcing it back into the abyss where it came from, then I was feeling guilt or shame for thinking the thoughts and for taking the specific actions related to the thoughts.

For me, coming into a better understanding of my spiritual side has been amazing; however, it has also caused me to place a lot of undue, unnecessary stress and pressure upon myself. I think anyone that’s engaged in self-exploration and growth will eventually encounter some form of self-condemnation or judgment. As we tune into what we feel is a more aware, connected, conscientious state, it’s not uncommon to hold ourselves to an even higher standard than ever before regarding our past and present emotional responses and actions.

Despite the improved states of awareness we may have achieved through spiritual pursuits, we need to be cautious about denying any part of our human experience. Acknowledging our emotional tendencies and physical experiences is part of the journey. There comes a point, however, when it’s important to understand we must not only acknowledge, but eventually honor all of our feelings and experiences. To acknowledge is simply to recognize (with or without attachment), but in showing honor we are providing ourselves with a form of respect minus any critique.

I’m not saying we can’t or shouldn’t learn to make continuous choices which are more advantageous for ourselves as well as for others. But, I do believe it’s easy to wander into the trap of expecting our human aspects, tendencies and “faults” to fall away once we experience more pronounced inner growth. Because of these unrealistic expectations, we may begin to vehemently deny, repress and/or resent that side of us as it expresses itself. I believe this tendency is, in fact, where the damaging concept of sin stems from. We are definitely spiritual beings, but we are these beings while simultaneously having a human experience, in which there’s nothing sinful.

There are certain biological and physiological drives and responses that will always accompany this physical journey no matter how much enlightened knowledge we possess. That doesn’t mean we are victims, prisoners or unwitting pawns of the human vehicle. It only means it’s important for us to understand these functions for what they are and embrace them as we continue our own growth.

The sooner we can distance ourselves from the concept of having to live some imaginary, saintly, sterile life, just because we are on a spiritual journey, the better. I don’t think we should equate true spiritual awareness with feeling guilt or denial over any of our emotions and experiences. In fact, feeling guilty and sinful have about as much in common with spirituality as George Bush does with being considered a Rhodes scholar. Sorry, I couldn’t resist that one!

We have always been taught that fear and the repercussions from some external power (be it our parents, teachers, pastors, god, the long arm of the law, etc.) should keep our actions and thoughts in line. In other words, it’s ok to be ourselves, just as long as we measure up to a certain ideal or standard. Deviate from that standard and we’re up the creek (at least in the eyes of many). The problem with this logic is very evident- it teaches us to not honor our true feelings and it causes us to find shame in many of our actions.

Once again, I’m not encouraging anyone to break the law or mistreat others. I’m encouraging you to think about why you may feel compelled to not honor all of your emotions and actions, whether they’re deemed proper or improper by society or any form of spiritual or religious teachings. When we can learn to honor every part without judgment, I believe we will have a more whole, integrated, joyous experience. As our lives become more whole, we stop operating from fractured psychological and physical states.

Imagine a jigsaw puzzle. Every disconnected piece may contain snippets of beauty, but in its broken state it’s impossible to see the phenomenal, big picture. And to complicate things further, many of us decide to throw out our own life pieces that we feel no longer fit with our current self-image or understanding. However, when each piece is not only kept but acknowledged for what it is, honored and then joined together- an amazing scene unfolds.

Honoring who we are (even our supposed wrong doings) and leaving condemnation behind does not mean we are doomed to repeat our past, nor does it prevent our own internal and external growth. On the contrary, it enhances our growth. The most disconnected, diminished state of being is one that’s broken into a million pieces represented by fear, guilt, repression, regret and disassociation with our feelings and experiences. Bring your pieces together by embracing the human side (including all of its interesting parts) and joining it with the spiritual side. To ultimately understand they are both one gigantic, intertwined experience, without any real separation, is the ultimate state of honoring who you are.

If this post has been helpful to you, please consider sharing it with others and/or making a donation. Thank you for supporting Wind of the Soul.

The Wisdom of Wind

John Wolfe — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 01:57:20 +0000

Today’s entry, in continuing with my wisdom in nature posts, features the elusive wind. At times, this element can be the yin to water’s graceful yang, yet it too provides us with its own enlightening characteristics. Wind has the ability to rapidly modulate its movement and its course, all based upon a connection to the moment. And while its temperament may not always be as passive and gentle as flowing water, it has developed its own unique variations and capacities for being a spiritual teacher just the same.

Wind provides the majority of its insight and wisdom through the demonstration of persistence and tenacity. Like water, it has the ability to slowly wear away any form of resistance and is a true artisan among the elements.

Through its own resolve, wind sculpts amazing shapes from solid canyon walls and cliffs. It knows its abilities will ultimately see its harshest forms of opposition turned into beautiful wind swept sceneries and vistas.

While wind primarily utilizes diligence as its tool for creation, it never underestimates the importance of calm precision. With the slightest amount of effort, applied to an evening breeze, it cools the hottest summer nights.

Wind moves with the purpose of growth. Its gusts serve to strengthen every tree limb. For without its help, the smallest groves of saplings would never mature into strong, thick forests.

Wind brings forth rejuvenation, clearing out the old to make way for the new. Stagnation is not a possibility in the natural environment, as wind ushers in the potential for change.

Wind moves with the purpose of nurturing. Its drafts serve as guides to the gray giants of the sky. For without its assistance, precious rain would never find thirsty crops.

Wind encourages all living things to bend with the direction of its movement. Those that learn to give way are not toppled by its breezes. The wind, however, does not believe all things must follow its specific course; it simply teaches the ability to relax, stretch and allow.

The wind is a free spirit, devoid of hang-ups or attachments. It’s completely self-actualized, spontaneous and comfortable in its own awareness and actions; whether it’s blustering between the branches of an old oak or whipping through the needles of a mountain pine. It finds immense benefit in all environments and eagerly travels from one location to the next, minus fear, doubt or concern.

Wind moves with the purpose of uplifting. Its updrafts serve to relax the beat of a million wings. For without its help, birds could not soar to new heights.

The wind does not brag or boast of these attributes, but prefers to operate through visual anonymity. Only the rustling of leaves, the swaying of grass and the tussling of our hair reveal its presence. It has remained eternally unseen, yet will be forever felt and heard.

Similar to The Wisdom of Water; in this post, I provided the wind with many characteristics resembling intelligence. Yet, I believe this somewhat intangible teacher does possess its own awareness; maybe not exactly like yours and mine, but a consciousness, nonetheless.

Many of these observations came from a relaxed state of watching the trees sway outside my window, but several of the wind’s “subtler” qualities didn’t appear to be stemming from my scrutiny. Instead, they seemed to come as one solid, elaborate thought (without any need to be developed or re-written); infused with a deeper sense of knowing. So it is, when we are completely tuned to the awareness of that which has not forgotten.

This entry has also been featured as an audio recording. It can be found in the podcast section or played directly by following this link: Podcast #8: The Wisdom of Wind. The recording runs for 6 minutes. File size for downloading is: 5.49 MB.

If this post has been helpful to you, please consider sharing it with others and/or making a donation. Thank you for supporting Wind of the Soul.

The Wisdom of Water

John Wolfe — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 03:40:07 +0000

Mankind has always looked to nature as its ultimate external spiritual teacher. When we observe the elements in their natural, pristine settings; they have much to share regarding the unfolding of life. All things in the environment, (minus man’s interference) come about through an unhurried, consistent, form of allowing. While these traits can be witnessed in many elements, there doesn’t seem to be one that articulates them in a manner more beautifully than flowing water.

Water shares its wisdom with us through the subtleties of its action. Aside from an occasional storm, it has very little to prove and radiates a modest confidence in this knowledge. It has the ability to relax; taking on any shape which tries to encase it, while simultaneously possessing the potential to eventually realize its freedom- whether as a vapor or a liquid.

Water finds peace through its own versatility, recognizing there’s no need to control, or struggle. In its resourcefulness, it always discovers the path which is the most harmonious and least resistant. If resistance is met, it doesn’t battle to overcome it, rather it stays consistent in its own subtle flow, until the resistance eventually wears away.

Water happily sprays and joyously splashes, without inhibition and without any specific reason for doing so. It just does and it doesn’t worry over what the fish, trees, grass or anything else may think.

Water allows without provocation. It doesn’t demand that anything follow its lead. It carves out its own trail and silently lets those objects, which choose to take the trip with its current, come downstream for the ride. Simultaneously, it doesn’t mind that other rivers, creeks and streams are hewing out their own unique passage, just a short distance away.

Water gives freely of itself to all living things, without fear of lack or shortage in supply. It understands that through generosity, both its experience and the experience of the recipient will become more enhanced.

Water, in its constant state of motion, doesn’t become tense or anxious. It has found its movement to be more graceful and fulfilling when it leaves rigidity to the rocks it glides past.

Water does not worry over its performance as it rounds a bend in the stream or shoots the falls. It simply fails to get in its own way. With all of its billions of individual droplets making up the unity of its current- it recognizes it is the way.

Water is not in any hurry to reach an ultimate destination- for it knows such a place does not exist. It understands that being softly deliberate, gently intentional and quietly unfailing will always see it through to the next location in its path. However, it never ceases to enjoy the course of its journey, in the moment of now.

In this post, I have given water very human-like traits and personifications of intelligence. Yet, the irony, here, is water acts nothing like most of us. It absolutely has its own way of trusting and being. What it may lack in terms of I.Q. points and human consciousness, it more than makes up for in its connection to the natural, uncomplicated movement of all things in the Universe.

While there are definitely moments where calm, allowing passivity may be inappropriate in the human experience; the majority of time we could adopt these characteristics. If we would take just a handful of the examples this magnificent element provides us- and apply them in our lives- we would see an amazing shift begin to develop in the way we feel. As our feelings shift and change, our external reality will join in unison.

If this post has been helpful to you, please consider sharing it with others and/or making a donation. Thank you for supporting Wind of the Soul.

This entry has also been featured as an audio recording. It can be found in the podcast section or played directly by following this link: Podcast #7: The Wisdom of Water. The recording runs for 8 minutes and 48 seconds. File size for downloading is: 8.06 MB.

Shaking off Social Pressure to Achieve Self Actualization

John Wolfe — Sat, 10 May 2008 21:12:48 +0000

A topic near and dear to my heart is the idea of people marching to the beat of their own drum. Despite what’s deemed the norm, and often times in spite of it, certain individuals manage to carve out their own unique ways of living, thinking and being. They’ve long since thrown off what’s considered acceptable by society’s standards and they live their lives by tuning into an inner calling and an awareness of what’s right for them.

In my opinion this is one of the fastest ways to become a fully self actualized human being. Self actualization is about more than establishing an identity. It’s about living intentionally and feeling wholeness and a fulfilled happiness that’s not dependent upon things or others. But, it’s simultaneously the recognition that material items and relationships can enhance your experience. However, they by no means have any bearing on your self sufficient state of joy and the knowledge of who you are.

Now, what prevents the majority from following cerebral and physical pursuits that embrace the ideas of wholeness and contentment in their being? In many cultures, societies, and even among family structures, there are two areas which seem to impede such pioneering ways: social regulations and social pressure.

The fascinating thing is societies with strong rules, regulations and laws seem to be a slightly better “breeding” ground for individuals that are willing to question where their sense of self is being derived from. Under these strict conditions, people will begin to become more introspective and doubt the powers that be (at least privately). This line of thinking lends itself to creating a more in tune individual. Citizens in harshly regulated societies are forced into adopting the status quo due to fear of reprisal. And while physically, they abide by the regulations, mentally they withdraw from the external claptrap and propaganda.

In societies where social pressure seems to be more dominant than social regulations, many people appear less likely to think for themselves and are more willing to adopt the group think mentality. People under intense social pressure conform initially out of fear of being rejected and meeting with verbal criticism. Over time the fear of being chastised and ostracized wanes. They eventually give in to the pressure and start mimicking and enforcing the “correct” lifestyle right alongside everyone else.

Many western cultures, like the United States for example, obviously have their laws and regulations, yet they also seem to have excellent conditions for cultivating severe social pressures. I believe much of this stems from the access we have to larger amounts of material resources than many other countries.

This access causes an obvious delineation between the haves and the have not’s. The wider the gap becomes, the greater the strain on the fabric of society. As we begin paying more attention to what we have and don’t have (in comparison to others), than we do to who we are and how we can help one another- we succumb to social pressure.

In this nation, social pressure leads people to engage in activities they would never dream of if they were more in tune with their true selves. You don’t have to look very far to locate someone who’s willing to do unnecessary things to their body, simply to try and please someone else.

From Botox to implants, to living on drugs that aid sexual performance, we are selling ourselves out in an attempt to locate an external form of happiness. And that doesn’t even begin to address what we do to one another and our world in the pursuit to acquire more and more material items.

I know many people fear the direction our nation is going; especially in view of some of the ways we’ve relinquished personal freedoms. However, as long as we are willing to continue playing many of the materialistic, mindless games we’ve been engaging in, government has no need to enforce stricter laws and regulations. We’re already censoring and restricting our true selves for them.

Social pressures are one of the strongest forms of control western nations have over their citizens. The sad thing is we continue to perpetuate that control with very little prompting. We line up willingly.

We’re either killing ourselves to look good or to artificially feel good (via drugs, alcohol, tobacco, food addictions, shopping addictions, sex addictions, etc.). Either way, both types of extreme behaviors originate from a place of physical self loathing and a lack of removing the pressure to always perform and to have more.

In the process, we’ve forgotten to just be. In being, we quiet the external stimuli and we search within; bringing ourselves to a point of knowing instead of a place of mimicking, reaching, guessing, and stumbling.

I don’t believe there’s a thing wrong with having nice material possessions or wanting to look good, or feel good (real happiness, not the artificial kind). The problem resides in the over identification of who we are with these things. Once we learn to relate to our value as solely residing in our appearance, what we own, what we can ingest, or who we can score with; we have succumbed to the very social pressure that strips us of actualization.

We can become so submersed in living in this manner; we never recognize there’s something more. This can go on for years until we wake up one day to an empty shell of a life with very little depth or substance. This is a sure sign we’ve neglected the portion of ourselves that fuels our experience. It’s still there, but it’s stunted.

When we quit doing for the sake of trying to measure up and we start being for the sake of discovering real happiness and wholeness; we will have made an important shift. This conscious shift will take us from living accidentally through social pressure to living intentionally through the knowledge of the inner self.

If this post has been helpful to you, please consider sharing it with others and/or making a donation. Thank you for supporting Wind of the Soul.

Living the Placebo Effect

John Wolfe — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 19:35:51 +0000

“My company mascot is the bumblebee. Because of its tiny wings and heavy body, aerodynamically the bumblebee shouldn’t be able to fly. But the bumblebee doesn’t know that, so it flies anyway.” – Mary Kay Ash of Mary Kay Cosmetics

According to my Webster’s New World Dictionary, circa 1963; the definition of the word placebo is: a medicine given just to humor a patient. I know what you’re probably thinking, “You need to spring for a new dictionary.” After reading that antiquated interpretation of the word, I would have to agree.

Over four decades ago, Webster’s dictionary seemed to also be humoring its readers (right along side most doctors) as it published a definition laced with a hint of mockery. Forty five years later modern medicine has realized there is validity to the placebo effect, beyond placation, but it’s not much closer to respectfully embracing it.

This, I believe, is partly due to a lack of fully understanding why placebos work and a prejudice toward exploring anything deemed unscientific. But it’s mostly due to the desire, primarily fueled by pharmaceutical companies, insurance companies, HMO’s, etc. to not want to know exactly why they work. If their mechanisms were fully understood it could revolutionize the health care industry by putting health and the majority of control over one’s health back in the patient’s hands.

It’s similar to why our world hasn’t made the switch sooner from petroleum based fuel products, to more eco-friendly, green sources of alternative energy – big business is calling the shots and trying to dictate the trends. Unfortunately their trends are not about helping others to live happier, healthier, more empowered lives. This will continue being the case, until humanity’s interest in these subjects is reflected through its buying power on an even larger scale. Then, corporations will have to pay attention.

As consumers, we have to be willing to make more conscientious decisions concerning our purchases, based on how they affect the environment and others. And as patients, we must be willing to do the same where our health’s concerned. We must be more conscientiously aware of our body’s signals and what it’s trying to communicate. We need to start being more present and aware in our thoughts and the choices we make that continually influence our physical, spiritual and psychological health.

The placebo effect is about an individual investing belief in a treatment that is said to have no medicinal value whatsoever (the individual doesn’t know this, just like Mary Kay’s example of the bumblebee), yet the patient markedly improves anyway, solely on their desire to be well. Their improved condition is stemming from their own inner abilities, not from the treatment they think they’re receiving.

All forms of treatment are essentially placebos anyway, whether they’re deemed to be or not. I’m not discounting the fact that drugs and medicines have a physiological effect, but biologically we are identical to one another. The only difference is our individual propensity toward certain diseases and illnesses. Yet, I believe genetic propensities are accentuated and exacerbated by our emotional attitudes.

This is why you can take two individuals with the same illness, and have two totally different responses to the same treatment. If drugs were the only portion of the equation responsible for healing us, then everyone would experience identical response levels. This isn’t the case.

The patient absolutely has to believe in the treatment for it to work. Now, I’m sure there are cases where people with extremely negative, doubting attitudes have benefited from certain treatments, despite their outlook. However, I would wager that their level of improvement and overall well being was still not as pronounced as someone entering into the same treatment with a higher expectation. And the person with the negatively dominated outlook is far more susceptible to relapsing or acquiring another illness.

Our responses to treatment can be tracked much further back, in our individual history, beyond what’s happening at the doctor’s office. The types of results we experience can be traced back to the ways we have assimilated, processed and retained information since childhood. Perhaps, to fully understand why medical placebos can work, we should take their premise and apply it to other portions of our lives. By utilizing a psychological version of reverse engineering, we can harness the techniques that subconsciously power the placebo’s effects.

To fully live the placebo effect would mean we must find the place of knowing that which we want has already been accomplished. It would mean finding a way to believe and then reaching beyond belief, into the realm of knowing. This effect could be achieved in a multitude of ways, but if we are trying to emulate the sugar pill’s application, then we must know something to be true (even before we see it presented in our life experience) and release any contradictory thoughts, entirely. That has to be easier said than done, right? – Absolutely, if that’s what we choose to believe and we aren’t willing to try.

It’s been shown that patients that fully believe in their doctor’s abilities to help them attain wellness, along with the prescribed treatment, respond better than those that are doubtful of the procedures. The patients exhibiting the highest degree of confidence will typically release into their treatment, knowing they are going to get better, and never giving it a second, doubtful thought.

We must emulate that sort of vision and build that same level of confidence; envisioning our goals accomplished. Taking the necessary steps (no matter how small), each and every day, will continue to build the belief in our abilities for attainment. And our reality will begin to reshape itself, in turn reflecting our new beliefs.

You see, the placebo effect knows no bounds. It doesn’t strictly apply to doctors, hospitals and conquering illnesses. It’s about the way we live our entire lives. The placebo effect has little to do with treatment and everything to do with our own state of mind and being.

Take a Placebo Right Now

Here are three ways to start applying the placebo effect in your life, to better aid you in finding that place of knowing:

1. Physically move in the direction of that which you desire. Don’t stall and ponder other people’s opinions over whether or not you can or cannot, should or should not do something. That form of indecisive doubt is what has created most people’s negative take on reality for their entire lives. Literally, be the bumblebee. Take the action (even if it’s miniscule) and before you know it, you’ll be doing those things that were once believed impossible.

Every single step you take will reinforce your beliefs. If you encounter a few problems along the way, so what? Areas of resistance validate the fact you are in motion towards your desires. An object in motion may encounter some forms of resistance from time to time, it’s only natural.

2. Expect the unexpected. Most people use this phrase in a negative way. Turn it around and instead of expecting the worst case scenario; anticipate the very best from your actions. As you begin to live with great expectations, they will become your primary form of anticipation.

Be sure to let yourself off the hook if you still have negative thoughts, despite your efforts. Give yourself permission to do so. If you’ve spent years ruminating primarily in a negative manner, you really have no other recourse until you consistently begin practicing otherwise. Your brain’s become hard wired that way. But you have to make a conscious effort.

I’ve compared the deliberate creation of our reality to physical exercise before, and for good reason. We have to exercise and consistently re-train our brain (which acts as the intermediary between our spiritual self and our physical vehicle) to begin strengthening it to expect the best; before the best can manifest.

3. Surround yourself with a strong system of support. Placebos and treatments primarily work because people believe and have confidence in those that administer them (along with a belief in themselves). You must create your own community that administers belief in you and vice versa. If you’re finding that’s a tall order to fill, based upon the people currently in your life, then it’s time to start branching out and meeting others.

Surround yourself with books, music, philosophies, and affirmations that reinforce the power within you. Placebos can also exert their benefit by allowing you to focus on healing; removing your attention from illness. Employ teachings that shift your focus toward that which is therapeutic and empowering, and then watch your life unfold in that same manner.

These are just a few techniques for beginning to live the placebo effect. Examples are being set around us everyday, which defy the commonly accepted ideas of human potential. If we can dig down to locate the inspiration behind these accomplishments, we can continually come closer to understanding our abilities. Those abilities will never cease to expand as long as we can discover new ways to believe and to know.

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Blazing Your Own Trail: the Techniques Part 2

John Wolfe — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 05:21:32 +0000

In the first Blazing Your Own Trail Techniques post, I discussed ways for breaking away from limiting, ingrained thoughts in the areas of: relationships, career, and health. In this second post I’m going to discuss ideas for altering the self limiting views we tend to acquire on our physical attributes and material possessions.

Even though our attitude towards our health, career and relationships can easily be influenced by other people; perhaps there are no two areas that cause us to consider the opinion of the majority more than that of how we look and the items we own (or don’t own).

It’s these two circumstances that seem to affect us fairly early in life. As children we don’t have any other external “merits” to be judged on, by our peers, outside our appearances and possessions. Kids will typically mirror the limiting concepts for determining value that they see and hear at home. They begin using these same criteria for judging their friends and classmates, as well as for judging themselves.

It’s easy to understand why many of us retain issues concerning self esteem and the ideas of lack our entire lives. After childhood we’re taught these same two areas are just as important in the adult world, only now the stakes are higher.

The antes are upped because we’re led to believe our looks and possessions are what truly matter when attracting a potential mate. There’s no doubt an extremely large portion of the population still buys into this limiting ridiculous notion, and that’s why it’s important for us to start blazing our own trail in these areas as well.

The purpose of this post isn’t to make someone that believes they have good looks and large amounts of material things feel bad. The purpose is to primarily help shift the awareness and the focus of attention away from those things for determining our value.

If you feel like you’re attractive and you have lots of nice things- that’s awesome. But my message is exactly the same to those that feel this way, as it is to those that don’t: in the entire scheme of things, looks and possessions don’t mean squat. They’re temporary. Even if we hold on to them for our entire physical lives they’re still only transient, since all of this is left behind when we make our transition into the nonphysical realms.

The only reason we believe our looks and possessions are so important is because we’ve been taught to make them the center of our existence. We’ve been influenced for years to incorporate those ideas into our reality and they continue to cause us to re-create the same version of that reality again and again. Your true measures of success, worth, and happiness reside elsewhere.

I’m not trying to have people squelch their wants and desires. Everyone has the right to pursue whatever they choose. But I am imparting the idea that running around in pursuit of them, while ignoring the understanding of where our true power resides is a frivolous game. We have to find our value and happiness within before we try and fill our without up with things. Most people have been doing just the opposite their entire lives.

Don’t continue to be fooled by the pack mentality on these issues, unless you truly enjoy the lifestyle these beliefs lead you to pursue. Unfortunately, pursuing that lifestyle is a lot like a dog chasing its own tail. It may seem fun for a while, but ultimately it takes you nowhere.

Physical Attributes

How we feel about the way we look, and what we do with that knowledge, can make or break us in life. Notice I didn’t say, “What others think about our looks can make or break us.” That’s because it means absolutely nothing regarding what others think about how we look. All that matters is our own interpretation. It’s important to love your body, but it’s even more important to keep proper perspective regarding it.

As we age, there’s no escaping the fact that our looks absolutely will change. Working on developing a healthy body image (including perspective) is something that most of us are never taught and sometimes never develop. We have every subject under the sun crammed down our throats during our school career, yet we’re never educated on the subject of emotionally caring about ourselves. It’s sort of left up to us to try and sort it all out. In a society that thrives on “attractive” faces and sex appeal, this isn’t always an easy task.

I have struggled for a good portion of my life with finding value in who I am, as opposed to associating it with what I look like. I spent a lot of that time trying to have my external attributes validated by others. For years I never understood where my true talents and gifts resided.

I went from person to person, hoping they could make me feel like something was special about me (on the outside). The entire time my experiences were superficial and empty. I never felt filled up because I was employing the wrong credentials for determining my value. I chose to engage in popularity contests instead of connecting with my abilities and what I could contribute.

I was constantly chasing after things that I felt would serve to enhance my looks, in turn enhancing the results of the superficial charade I was involved in. As a child and young adult, I never even came close to developing a positive image about my body, never mind a healthy perspective about looks. So, I spent years doing drastic and extreme things to enhance my body through pursuits like weight training.

While there’s nothing inherently wrong with weight training, I believe there was something completely amiss with the style I was practicing. Ask any extreme bodybuilder that’s not in denial about their endeavors, and they’ll tell you the reason they do what they do has nothing to do with health.

In fact, most risk their health every chance they get to ensure a few more gains of muscle. I’m not just talking about drugs here. The whole media hype about ‘roid rage is just that- hype. Steroids are probably one of the safer pursuits among most extreme bodybuilders. The crazy caloric intakes and risky workouts often times pose far more threat to their bodies than their drug regimens.

I used to believe if I could only achieve another inch or two on my arms, or chest, or legs, I’d finally reach true happiness. It seems ridiculous when I read that last sentence, but it was true. Of course, the actual measurements had little to do with it. The real goal was (I assumed) it would make more and more people (women) pay attention to me. My motto was: “I can’t do anything about my face, but I can sure do something about my body.”

The only thing that finally helped snap me out of that empty lifestyle was many of the spiritual awakenings I’ve related throughout my blog posts. They helped me to start putting things in proper perspective and realize a higher truth. And a portion of that truth, which I came to understand, was that my real value resides elsewhere, in a part of me that transcends the temporary physical self.

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with loving how we look (I encourage it), or enjoying the fact that other people think of us as being attractive. We just can’t allow our primary source of happiness to be derived through these means because they are not permanent. If our physical attributes become our main source for fulfillment and joy, then we are setting ourselves up for an empty experience.

Material Possessions

I’m not going to go too heavily into over attaching ourselves to material items because this subject shares much in common with the perceptions of our physical attributes and income (which I talked about in the last post in this series) levels.

We often identify our possessions as extensions of our physical self. This can actually be a good thing, since these extensions mirror what’s occurring within. Unfortunately, most of us aren’t willing to take a good long look in that mirror. If we feel there is something lacking about ourselves, we may try and make up for it with things we can possess and own. This is primarily a way to try and exert control over an area where we have emotionally lost our control. We like to use our possessions as a means of showing power and dominance externally, because internally we feel we’ve lost that power.

This doesn’t mean we should shun an abundant lifestyle. It means we once again must learn to keep proper perspective about the items we desire to possess. It’s all about our dominant intentions behind why we wish to have something.

I believe the biggest step we can take to help us move beyond an over dependency on obtaining our value from our looks and from material items, is to connect to our purpose. The subject of our true purpose comes up often in my posts, but that’s because I feel it’s at the heart of the spiritual experiences we are having in this physical plane. When we lack purpose and passion we drift. When we drift, we latch on to substitutes for real inner happiness.

These substitutes come in the form of the incessant need to acquire more things. They also can come in the form of pursuing empty activities, and meaningless relationships that only serve to temporarily shore up our self esteem.

Start breaking away from the limiting capacity for functioning that our society has set forth before you. Begin blazing your own trail. Find your path to loving yourself as you are. Keep proper perspective of what you own (and your looks) as well as anything else you may wish to acquire. Discover your purpose through your passion and begin living a life that aligns with it and you’ll amaze yourself.

This isn’t about hampering your potential for beauty, greatness, or wealth. It’s about reassessing your priorities and how they affect your thoughts and judgments, so you can move beyond the old ideas and concepts which have been holding you back. Let real happiness and real joy become your guides in life. Only then will you know true beauty, true greatness, and true wealth.

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Blazing Your Own Trail: the Techniques Part 1

John Wolfe — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 05:12:27 +0000

I want to continue my discussion of blazing your own trail to self/spiritual empowerment by identifying some specific techniques for breaking free from the pack mentality. In this post, I’m going to take three of the five main areas that I feel serve to influence and reinforce the path we currently follow and discuss ways for undoing the strangleholds they may have on us.

Of course, the easiest way to break free from any of these is to always make your own happiness your priority. Your joy will guide you. However, when we’re in the middle of an ongoing disempowering situation, it’s difficult to remember that. It’s easy to lose ground quickly; therefore it’s helpful to recognize techniques for making the changes, prior to sinking again and again in the quicksand of the unfolding situations.

It’s always important for us to remember: despite what anyone else thinks- all that matters is our opinion pertaining to our experiences and choices. We have to learn to actually alter our thinking and the processing of information before we’re able to accept that it’s ok to take the path less traveled.

Many of the techniques I discuss in this post, and in the following one, fly in the face of conventional “wisdom.” Yet, if we are interested in removing ourselves from the carbon copy lifestyles we see around us, we have to be willing to break from the ranks.

The typical pack logic prevents us from having much of anything worthwhile to offer to one another because we are taught to coexist and co-create from an agreed upon illusory state of conditional feelings; consisting of lack, limitation, and struggle. If we would strive to make real happiness the most important thing in our lives, then these falsehoods could no longer have any effect upon us.

I hope the following ideas (which I try and consistently use in my own life) help you to blaze your own trail, uncovering the path you want to travel.

Relationships/Community

Sense of family, community, and belonging to peer groups can be an amazing experience or it can be one of the most awful, gut wrenching experiences around, depending on how we’re treated. The pack mentality likes to encourage conformity with regards to family and life long friendship. We’re taught to respect our elders and keep our bonds tight among friends and family. Yet, if they’re doing us more harm than good, this is an extremely destructive creed to maintain.

I fully believe we are only treated externally, based on the way we feel about ourselves internally. In other words, we can only interact and find those people that are matches to how we see ourselves. Some people still believe opposites attract with regards to relationships. While certain individuals may have surface characteristics which appear to be opposite of one another, down deep they have more in common than anyone would ever guess.

For someone that’s in a situation of being insulted, or mistreated by their family or friends, it’s extremely difficult to break the cycle of abuse, when you are also internally abusing yourself. It makes it almost impossible to speak up to your abuser because you don’t feel worthy of doing so, since the conversations you carry on in your head are just as detrimental. I believe it is important to try and work these situations out in other ways before taking a more drastic step, but for someone that is having self esteem and self respect issues, it may be best to remove themselves entirely from the situation.

Sometimes severing ties with peers, friends, and/or family members that are consistently providing destructive, harmful influence (whether emotional or physical) is the best thing we can do. This may sound harsh and it may sound like I’m suggesting we place conditions on our love for them, but we’re not loving ourselves unconditionally if we continue associating with people that are destructive toward who we are. If we are not in a place to fully love ourselves, and are only receiving reinforcement of those feelings, emanating from the people we associate with, then we’re definitely not capable of providing real love to anyone else either.

This may be easier said than done. I know because I speak from experience. I went through a time in my life where I had to make a choice surrounding the people I called my friends. Even though they were a part of my life for years, I felt the need to move beyond their influence and it wasn’t easy.

That doesn’t mean I consider them bad people. I just felt I was not being respected and I knew they were only showing me the disrespect I felt for myself. I had to break the cycle by breaking away from them and finding the love and respect for myself that I deserved. It’s a portion of this experience that I touched on in Spiritual Hermits.

As we’re in the middle of making these tough decisions, it can feel like we are completely alone and isolated; but by moving beyond the past negative influences we provide ourselves with an opportunity to heal. Once we’ve healed, we can then work to forgive our past and appreciate it for bringing us to even greater moments of clarity. It’s then that we’ll begin to find new people coming into our lives. Those people which are more appropriate for the individual we’ve become, the individual that was always waiting to shine through.

I’m not saying abusers are horrible people. While I don’t agree at all with their actions, I understand why they do what they do. They suffer from the same lack of self love their victims internally feel. This is why they’re a match for one another. Abusers have bought into the lies about life and are operating from a fear based mechanism for trying to find their power. It’s a vicious cycle, but you can’t stop it by hanging around to take more of it. You have to break free from their abuse as well as your own.

Career/Income

Blazing your own trail in the area of how you earn your income may mean leaving a job or career that no longer serves your purpose. Maybe you’ve been experiencing a spiritual awakening and the career field you’re currently in no longer aligns with your new found awareness. Find the means within your purpose for earning your income. Nothing feels better and more rewarding than to know you’re following your calling and earning a living by doing so.

Another fine example of our brains being washed by this society is the belief that we have to pursue certain career paths, whether they align with our purpose or not. This is the “bottom line” mentality. We’re taught to go where the money is, instead of going where our heart takes us. This too stems from a fear based responsive mechanism built into our cultural consciousness.

Many people are too afraid to alter their lifestyle, for the time being, out of concern over what others may think if they were to suddenly quit keeping up with the Joneses. And some simply won’t do without because they are addicted to their present lifestyle, even though it may no longer be serving them.

If it means we have to lower our standard of living for a certain amount of time, as we follow our heart, then so be it. I would much rather change my lifestyle to be able to follow my bliss instead of living high on the hog; slaving away at a job which is totally removed from my personal path. I believe that’s a far better trade off.

Following your heart, with regards to the way you bring in your income, will eventually pay off in huge dividends. I’m not necessarily talking money here, although I do believe the money will come because of such pursuits. I’m primarily speaking about how much more joyous your life experience will become. The personal satisfaction you feel will more than make up for any perceived lack of “things.”

This doesn’t mean you have to suffer to follow your bliss. On the contrary, as you follow your passion, doors will begin opening up for you. It always works that way. Appreciate where you currently are and anticipate what’s waiting around each corner.

I’m not saying it will always be extremely easy to blaze your own trail in the area of your career, especially if you are self employed. But if you pursue what you love, maintain your vision, find a way to benefit others, and take consistent action in the direction of that which you desire- I believe you cannot fail. First and foremost, you’ve already succeeded because you’re following your heart, your true calling, and you’re developing a strong belief in yourself.

“Believe in yourself and there will come a day when others will have no choice but to believe with you” – taken from the book Unstoppable.

Health

We need to learn to take responsibility for our own health. We primarily believe it’s the responsibility of doctors to take care of us. The typical pack mentality supports the idea that we have zero control over our health; we’re just accidents and illnesses waiting for a place to happen. In my mind, doctors are almost always a last ditch resort for those that have ignored their health, on all levels. The body, when provided with the proper mindset, along with proper nutrients, and exercise, is built to instinctually take care of itself.

It’s only when we start messing around with our natural processes through the absorption of junk (certain food, drugs and meds), along with the introduction of exuberant amounts of junky thoughts, stress, and dysfunction that the body is thrown off its center. If you’ll address the other four primary items discussed in the Blazing Your Own Trail series, then you will have already made giant strides towards having a healthier body. Aside from consistent exercise and eating properly, the rest will fall into place on its own. If we would mind what we introduce into our bodies, on all levels, then they would restore their natural balance.

If you currently find yourself in an unhealthy state concerning your physical well being, then start taking a good look at how you behave and react within the categories I’ve discussed in this post and will be discussing in the next one. Just because you’re currently feeling unhealthy doesn’t mean you’re doomed to that state of being for the rest of your life. Do your best to resist the urge to discuss your ailments. The pack mentality loves to commiserate with each other about ill health. They’ll go as far as arguing who has it worse among one another and brag about what procedures they’ve had done at the doctor’s office.

This is nothing to brag about. It’s actually disturbing to see how far some people go in an effort to fight for their illnesses. They’ve completely given up their power to the medical establishment. They live in a disempowered stupor about their health; mesmerized by insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, and the evening news.

Doctors (and some medicines) have their proper place, but we need to make sure we keep them in it. Don’t allow them to encroach upon areas of your life that are fully under your control.

Blaze your own trail by cleaning up your diet, exercising, and starting a daily routine of meditation. I’m not suggesting you have to become a vegan, a bodybuilder, or a monk. Just eat sensibly and pay attention to how your body responds to certain foods. Do the same with your exercise and meditation.

This doesn’t have to be anything extravagant. Do what you can from where you are- nothing drastic at first. Give yourself permission to take it slowly. Rushing into anything and expecting immediate results only serves to further strip you of your power and happiness. It leads to frustration and you’ll begin beating up on yourself and using the same criteria the majority of society uses to measure and gauge their empty ideas of success.

If it’s been years since you’ve exercised, seek help from qualified individuals for getting on a proper routine. While I’ve been an avid weight trainer for years, I’m not in the position for giving out advice on designing exercise/diet routines for others. But I’d be more than happy to help you with developing a routine for meditating.

Even though I originally designed the post Techniques for Achieving an OBE, for teaching people how to have an out of body experience, I believe the meditation techniques in it are very sound for relaxation and for beneficially altering brain chemistry. And you’re always more than welcome to contact me if you have any questions about meditation or anything else.

In my next post, I’ll be addressing the issues of material possessions, our physical attributes and how we can break free from the limiting thoughts we may develop around these subjects.

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Blazing Your Own Trail

John Wolfe — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 05:02:26 +0000

In my last post Self Truths- Part II, on the 19th entry- I stated, “We should spend more time listening to young children and absorbing their wisdom. They believe in their dreams and know anything is possible. It’s only when an adult teaches them they can’t, often enough, that they start believing it.”

Most children come into this environment with an optimism that’s unparalleled. Imagine what could occur if our society fostered and encouraged that attitude to shine on throughout adolescence and into their adult lives; not with empty words, but with affirmations accompanied by enthusiastic affirmative action. Instead, kids very quickly run into roadblocks, at home and at school, discouraging that outlook and mindset. They hold out as long as possible, but the majority eventually succumb to the average, materialistic, powerless views on existence.

Then, after eighteen years of brain washing and tongue lashing the hope out of them, we kick them out into the world and expect them to become “productive members of society.” Most move disconnected, through experience after experience, never acknowledging or even understanding how amazing they are and the latent potential which resides within them; primarily seeking happiness in every location except the one which can truly satisfy their search.

Some children are lucky enough to have parents and teachers that try and foster a “you can do it” mindset; however these individuals primarily send a stronger message through their personal contradictory actions than they do through their mantras. It all comes back to the balance of thoughts and actions I speak of so frequently.

In the words of Mike Dooley, one of the teachers in the film The Secret, “If we do one without the other, it’s like doing neither.” In other words, if our thoughts are there, but the congruent action’s missing- it’s a no go. If the action’s there but the congruent thoughts are missing- once again it doesn’t work.

Just because most of us ran into nay saying roadblocks, doesn’t mean we have to continue allowing them to dictate how our lives unfold from this point forward. Nor does it mean we have to continue perpetuating the same negativity, influencing the children of present and future generations.

Every experience we encounter, whether physical or metaphysical, is an indicator of the emotional/thought choices we consistently make. There’s no doubt in my mind that we have a higher self (flowing through us) that’s interested in pursuing the most amazing aspects this environment has to offer. However, we also possess the ability to become “lost” and fragmented in our experiences, both in this existence and in the dimensions that await us beyond this plane.

When I speak about being fragmented, I mean we are not operating as one solid, well oiled unit of source self and human self. We are tearing ourselves apart because despite our higher creative power, we believe we don’t have options and choices for molding the life we want. We lose the awareness of our source self at an early age and for most, it’s never discovered again.

If you can relate to this fragmented, disconnected feeling (and you’re interested in making drastic changes), then you must take control of your experience by blazing your own trail. You have to consciously break away from the pack mentality which initially influenced you and begin to regain that childlike, wide eyed innocence.

You may be thinking that’s an impossible state of mind to regain; after all, you’ve witnessed too much since your childhood. If impossibility was the first thought that came to mind, while reading my suggestion, then that should be an indicator of how your thoughts are currently limiting your abilities.

Many people scoff or disbelieve that we are solely responsible for our own reality through a more mystical, inner means, than what meets the eye. Yet, almost everyone will agree a person that’s fired up about their life experience will encounter totally different outcomes throughout their life than someone who’s depressed and miserable most of the time. The surface difference (which bubbles up from a deeper level and connection), in these two individuals, is the desire to blaze trails.

The first person has honed this ability. The second has chosen to buy into the “injustices” in life (allowing themselves to become disconnected), while maintaining their course along the same old path. Whether you personally believe there’s something mystical occurring here, or not is up to you. But until you are capable of recognizing the magic at work all around you, you may not fully understand that you possess the entire array of abilities for carving out your destiny.

I believe there are five main areas that constantly influence the trail we are following. These are: our relationships/community, our career/income, material possessions, our physical attributes, and our health. These five areas continue to reinforce our identity and the path we follow based on how we perceive ourselves (and the way we believe others perceive us) through the filtering processes of these items. Basically, we constantly evaluate ourselves and our self worth via these five filters. It’s extremely easy to yo-yo back and forth on an emotional roller coaster over the apparent lack in any of these areas.

If we allow any one of these to contribute to our doubt, fear, or feelings of inadequacy; we’ve incorporated and retained the ridiculous measurements of worth, dictated to us by a society that’s disconnected from its true power. I want to make it clear- there’s nothing wrong with having great abundance in all of these areas. I encourage it (if it’s something you desire). In fact, I think it’s fantastic, but here’s the problem: we’ve never been taught to allocate these items to their proper position of scenery along the journey. Instead, most of us have been taught that they are the destination of the journey and they are the tools for adequately measuring our value.

We’ve never learned to separate our identity and our self worth from these items. It’s through our over dependence on relating to our reality, through these five filters, that we become disconnected from inner knowledge. This is why it’s imperative to start breaking old thought processes and blazing new trails in our minds, as well as in our physical life experiences.

You must uncover the knowledge that your happiness and worthiness are not something you have to earn through the accumulation of material things and relationships. Rather it’s something that you’ve always possessed because of your source nature. Those last two sentences are probably the most important I’ve ever written on my blog. Once you truly know your worth through and through, then you’ll discover your power and that which you desire must come. But it will manifest in a way that accentuates your already centered experience, instead of it being your experience.

Throughout our childhood we are taught that we can’t, and then, during our teen years and early adulthood, we are taught that we aren’t worthy unless we figure out a way that we can. Is it any wonder we’re confused as hell and we continue to send more confusing, contradictory messages?

My message is simple: we always can and we’ve always been able to do anything we desire, but we’re not worthy because of what we can do. We’re worthy because of who we are to begin with.

Blaze your own trail and I believe you’ll find a similar message residing within.

If this post has been helpful to you, please consider sharing it with others and/or making a donation. Thank you for supporting Wind of the Soul.